A Familiar Formula
Wherever he goes, he's the most eye-catching person; his irresistible charm is simply unstoppable.
Out of respect for the Earth Bear, many more people greeted Hudson. However, he remained an outsider to the entire banquet.
To become a strong person, one must endure loneliness that is difficult for ordinary people to bear, and one can imagine the importance of interpersonal skills.
Those who are both the leader and the strongest person in a force mostly exist only in minor noble families.
Among truly powerful forces, the strongest are often those who abandon worldly power and devote themselves to cultivation.
To spend one's days indulging in pleasure and busy with worldly affairs, and yet still dream of surpassing someone who has devoted decades to ascetic practice, is simply a pipe dream.
While resources may be available to assist them, it doesn't mean those who diligently cultivate will disappear. Major powers invest heavily in nurturing their own cultivation geniuses.
In normal times, training these experts might not be cost-effective. The same resources could be used to train an army, resulting in greater combat effectiveness. However, things change in unforeseen circumstances.
Take this locust plague for example. No matter how many ordinary troops there are, they are all helpless against the swarms of locusts.
Only the group of experts present were able to find and kill the Bug King amidst the dense swarm of locusts.
There are many similar application scenarios. For a powerful force, when competing with others, you may not need to use these experts, but you cannot do without them.
In political maneuvering, the presence of top experts often serves as the best deterrent, preventing many unnecessary troubles.
From the subtle movements of the people on the field, Hudson still vaguely sensed the existence of the circle.
Unsurprisingly, the Dalton Family lineage has the largest number of powerful individuals, accounting for nearly 40% of the total.
Among the several middle-class noble families in the province, there are also many powerful individuals. Some number as few as a few, others as many as a dozen or more.
Conversely, the lesser nobles, who constituted the largest group, were rarely seen here. Even those who did attend the banquet were relegated to the periphery.
You can't raise a dragon in shallow water.
Even with the largest population base, it is still more difficult than imagined for a small noble family lacking resources to produce a strong person.
Even if they were qualified to attend the banquet, it didn't mean they had a say. None of the loudest voices present came from minor noble families.
If you lack the ability, you can only keep a low profile in such situations. Otherwise, you might get caught and beaten up, and you'd be too ashamed to show your face.
Hudson is an exception; although he is very low-key, his bears are exceptionally high-profile.
Fortunately, the ancestors of the Earth Bear were powerful enough to leave a glorious name on the Aslant Continent. No one said anything about Beldens' performance.
Even if some people were dissatisfied, no one dared to complain before they were certain of Beldens' strength.
Humans and Warcraft were having a meal together, creating a chaotic and unsightly banquet.
This continued until Count Pierce entered, and Hudson, who had expected everyone to give the elder statesman some respect, even reminded Beldens.
Reality was a slap in the face; those who stood up to greet them were all minor figures.
The assembled dignitaries completely disregarded the Governor- General. They ate and drank as usual, and those who wanted to boast continued their boasting.
Hudson, who relied on his power and influence, was fortunate enough to be among those who remained seated, without rushing forward to flatter him.
Treatment is something you always have to earn yourself; you can't expect charity from others.
The hosts all believed that the Young Bear had the strength of Magister, and Hudson was happy to let the bear intimidate him, so he wouldn't do anything that would lower his own status.
After offering a few perfunctory words, Count Pierce walked to the center of the hall and said solemnly:
"I'm sure you all know why I invited you all here today."
The locust swarm has now swept through Fengyun Province. The local noble organizations' attempts to stop them have all failed, and in most of the areas ravaged by the locusts, crops have been completely lost.
According to a report from Fengyun Province, locusts are currently heading towards our Southeast Province. Perhaps in two or three days, a massive swarm of locusts will enter Qiaomu County.
The fate of the Southeast Province is now in your hands.
If we cannot kill the Bug King in time and stop the locust army from rampaging, I'm afraid my Southeast Province will follow in the footsteps of Fengyun Province.
Enough with the chit-chat. Tomorrow morning, we'll head together to Qiaomu County to try and stop the locust army before it reaches our borders..."
Hudson was quite surprised by the efficient handling of the situation. He had expected a lot of deliberation and wrangling, but instead, the results were announced right away.
This is not aristocratic at all.
But this is precisely the best way to deal with it right now.
The locust plague is imminent. If we don't quickly organize manpower to kill the Bug King, it will be too late once the swarm enters the Southeast Province.
In fact, even if the Bug King is successfully killed, it does not mean that the disaster is over.
Even without their Bug King, the swarms are still incredibly destructive. The only advantage is that without a leader, their actions become uncontrollable, preventing them from overwhelming the Southeast Province in a single mass.
It's fair to say that disaster was inevitable. All we can do is try our best to kill the locusts and reduce their numbers to minimize their destructive potential.
Everyone's businesses are based in the Southeast Province; they're all in the same boat. With the locust swarm sweeping in, no one's business will benefit. Naturally, no one would dare to cause trouble at this time.
Everything went incredibly smoothly, even when there were differing opinions. Due to the need for the greater good, everyone chose to keep them to themselves.
"Baron Hudson, the Earl requests your presence!"
The maid's voice surprised Hudson.
After the banquet ended, I thought I could go home and get a good night's sleep, but to my surprise, I was asked to stay.
Although they had met a few times, there was no real friendship between him and Count Pierce. On the contrary, they had a minor grudge.
The last time in Dadir City, Hudson was given the cold shoulder. That unpleasant memory remains vivid in his mind.
"Lead the way!"
Hudson said calmly.
If I contact him at this time, it can't be that he'll give me a hard time again, right?
If it were truly a deliberate attempt to target them, Count Pierce would have plenty of opportunities to exploit the situation. There's no need to cause trouble at this critical juncture and jeopardize the great cause of combating the locust plague.
Following the maid into the drawing room, Hudson saw the seven chairs arranged and very consciously sat down at the end.
Experience told him that those who came to discuss matters at this time were all important figures in the province. As a lowly subordinate, it was best not to be disliked.
Before they could even settle in, several people entered the hall, all of whom they had met at the banquet.
His exact strength is unknown; he looks about the same as an ordinary person. He has likely returned to simplicity, making it impossible to judge his strength based on the intensity of his aura. The only certainty is that he is stronger than me.
"Baron Hudson, is your bear an adult yet?"
Looking towards the source of the voice, Hudson saw a kind-looking old magician asking the question. However, Hudson had absolutely no liking for this man; could his trump cards be revealed so easily?
"Master Yuli, don't you think this question is excessive?"
Hudson retorted irritably.
He hadn't come away empty-handed from the banquet. Through eavesdropping and observation, Hudson had made some preliminary plans on how to get along with these old guys.
Being overly polite is pointless. There are too many sycophants around; I'm immune to them. They won't treat you any differently just because you're polite.
The only thing that catches their eye is strength. If someone isn't strong enough, no matter who they are, they won't give them any face.
When questioned, Hudson couldn't figure out the old man's exact background. In any case, he addressed Count Pierce as "Little Pierce."
With the Governor so lacking in prestige, Hudson didn't believe that honestly answering would earn him respect.
"Um!"
"This question is indeed a bit presumptuous. It's just that we old guys all know each other very well, except for your bear, whose strength is unclear."
To combat the locusts, everyone will need to cooperate. Understanding their strength beforehand is a practical necessity.
It is said that the Earth Bear awakens its Gravity Domain upon reaching adulthood, which can influence a large portion of the surrounding space.
The terror of a locust army lies in its sheer numbers; the individual strength of any locust is negligible. Even the Bug King, an advanced magical beast, is pitifully weak.
If your bear could exert Gravity Domain, or even slightly influence spatial pressure, it would be absolutely crucial in combating locust plagues.
Master Yuli explained with a smile.
He looked like a kind, approachable grandfather. If Hudson hadn't witnessed the old man arguing with someone at the banquet, he might have believed it.
"I see, Master Yuli, you can rest assured. The order in which the Earth Bear's talents awaken is always random. It just so happens that Beldens is more fond of gravity magic, so his talent in this area is quite good."
Hudson explained, feigning nonchalance.
Asking about a spell is fine, but wanting to know if the Earth Bear is an adult is out of the question.
Perhaps in other situations, the Earth Bear might not be a match for these old guys, but when it comes to taking down regular soldiers, Beldens is definitely worth ten of them.
There's no other reason than its strong stamina.
The main reason why the Earth Bear was able to earn the title of "King of the Earth" is that by standing on the ground, it can continuously absorb energy from the earth.
The replenishment speed is dozens of times faster than a magician frantically absorbing Magic Crystal Stone.
If the enemies were all lowly scum like locusts, Beldens could work from morning till night without getting tired.
It's merely casting some low-cost spells. The Earth Bear's energy replenishment rate is more than enough to keep up with its output.
This is something human mages can't even begin to compare to. Let alone casting spells continuously for a whole day, being able to sustain a battle for three or four hours is a testament to true strength.
Battles that last for days, or even months, are just legends. As a normal person, there's no way to compare myself to those legendary monsters.
Count Pierce, who arrived late, brought this rather unpleasant conversation to a close.
The anticipated battle plan did not materialize. Considering that this enemy is an unpredictable locust swarm, it seems that improvisation is worse than pre-planning.
"I've said everything I needed to say at the banquet. The reason I left a few people behind is mainly to deal with the Bug King."
According to the intelligence gathered, there may be more than one Bug King in this swarm, and there may even be a legendary Bug Emperor.
Finding and eliminating these locusts amidst the vast swarm is a task that only a handful of people across the entire Southeast Province are capable of.
The others participating in this operation are mainly providing support. Even if they encounter the Bug King, it would be difficult for them to kill it under the cover of the Zerg swarm.
Rest assured, as long as you can keep the locusts out of the Southeast Province, or kill all the kings in the swarm, you will receive your share of the benefits.
Ordinary goods are probably not of interest to most of you. Afterwards, you can exchange them with the Governor's Mansion for some valuable cultivation resources based on your respective contributions.
The detailed list is here. If you want anything not on the list, as long as it's available in any of the stores in the Southeast Province, I can help coordinate, but I can't guarantee I can get it.
Upon hearing Count Pierce's words, Hudson instantly understood. No wonder the bounty for killing a Bug King was only a mere thousand gold coins; it turned out that ordinary people simply couldn't accomplish such a task.
If the bounty is set too high, there will inevitably be reckless people who rush into the swarm of insects without killing the Bug King. Instead, they will be overwhelmed by the locusts, which would be a huge embarrassment.
Since they can't complete the task, there's no need to show them the real reward.
To avoid them causing more harm than good. If they disturb the Bug King beforehand and make it wary, it will only make the hunt more difficult.
Looking at the list of treasures, Hudson didn't recognize more than two-thirds of them. But that didn't stop him from taking these items seriously.
Resources that can assist high-level professionals in their cultivation are valuable everywhere. Even if you don't need them yourself, you can exchange them for other things.
The powerful figures present were all core members of their respective factions; even if 100,000 gold coins were placed before them, it might not be enough to sway them.
However, these cultivation resources can motivate everyone. In high society, these resources are definitely more useful than gold coins.
It seems the locust plague has frightened the major powers. They've even brought out treasures that are rarely seen under normal circumstances.
Hudson glanced around and suddenly realized something was wrong. It seemed that, apart from himself, these old guys were all members of various powerful factions.
They each contributed their treasures, which were then divided among their own family members. All subsequent expenses were shared by the noble lords and lords of the province.
No wonder they were so generous; it was originally prepared for these people. After showing the items around, it was perfectly reasonable to have all the nobles chip in to reimburse them.
These things might have been pre-allocated. The so-called exchange is just a smokescreen, a show for everyone.
The prerequisite is that the problem can be solved.
If the locust interception fails, or if the Bug King isn't killed, then everyone's efforts will have been in vain. Without solving the problem, the lower-ranking nobles won't willingly hand over their money.
Perhaps this is why Hudson was able to enter this place. After all, the Earth Bear is really effective against small minions like locusts.
Not only the Earth Bear, but most magical beast races are very effective against locusts.
When a high-level magical beast unleashes its aura, all the locusts within a radius of tens or even hundreds of meters will be wiped out.
Just look at the range of these creatures' activities during past locust plagues. The swarms have always avoided areas inhabited by monsters; no Bug King has ever led its army to attack the Monster Mountain Range.
I wonder if the monster's droppings will scare away the locusts. If they do, then Hudson still can't do anything.
His bear eats a lot, but poops very little. It has no idea where the food goes; it doesn't conform to the law of conservation of mass at all.
However, the pitiful manure is indeed incredibly fertilizing. It must be diluted multiple times before it can be irrigated into the fields.
"Baron Hudson, do you have any objections?"
Count Pierce's words instantly snapped Hudson out of his reverie. If everything on the list was predetermined, he, as a last-minute addition to the workforce, would be in an awkward position.
Trying to compete with these big shots is not only likely to offend people, but could also result in a brutal beating from society.
After all, rules are made by the powerful. It's perfectly reasonable for them to use their privileges to make minor modifications.
Hudson felt he was missing out if he didn't compete with these guys.
We can't just coast along and let the locust plague run rampant, can we?
In other matters, Lord Hudson a professional-level swimmer, but this situation is clearly different.
If the locust plague is allowed to rage unchecked, the Mountain Territory will suffer the same fate. The Hudson certainly won't do something that would backfire.
"Governor Excellency, if I were to exchange the merits I've earned for something else, would that be permissible?"
Hudson asked tentatively.
In theory, such insider trading should be strictly punished. The best example is military merit; the kingdom has the strictest laws prohibiting any form of trading in military merit.
To protect the interests of the lower and middle nobility, the kingdom has always had zero tolerance for such things.
Once discovered, not only will their military merits be lost, but their noble status will also be stripped away. Even their entire family will be implicated.
Fighting locust plagues, while not a war, is in some ways equivalent to military merit. Participating in such battles is also considered military service.
If the merits are great enough, such as killing the legendary "Bug Emperor" and saving the kingdom from loss, a title may be awarded.
"No!
Rules are rules, and no one is allowed to break them.
The credit belongs to whoever deserves it; no one may claim it for themselves!
"That's what Count Pierce said righteously."
But his encouraging look was clearly telling Hudson: Good job, kid, you've gotten the hang of things so quickly, you have potential!
Even the others attending the meeting looked at Hudson with more amiable eyes. Clearly, as long as they didn't compete with them for the precious cultivation resources, other issues were insignificant.
The scene before him completely disillusioned Hudson. Indeed, there's nothing new under the sun.
How could a world with highly monopolized and rigid class structures possibly be free of insider manipulation?
As a latecomer, being able to get a share of the pie is something only the powerful and influential can afford to do. If you overestimate yourself and try to grab a piece, then prepare to face the harsh realities of society!
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Excellency. Hudson has learned a great deal!"
As he spoke, Hudson gave Count Pierce a bow.
He demonstrated through his actions that he was a well-behaved child who knew the rules, only took what he was entitled to, and would never overstep boundaries or reach for things he shouldn't have.